Luther Movie (2003)

[Tiffse]

What is the church’s position on the movie, Luther (2003) starring Joseph Fiennes? Is it historically accurate?

 

[GoodSamaritan]

Probably not an official review of doctrine and history but here’s what the bishops wrote in their review…

usccb.org/movies/l/luther.htm

Here’s what a prominent Catholic apologist wrote about it:

ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ244.HTM

 

[challenger]

It wasn’t really historically accurate, no.

 

[Kotton]

As others have said, if you know the Church and a little of the history of that time, you will see it’s faults. I found the general theme correct, but not the application of all doctrine.

The film also promotes an erroneous understanding of indulgences. While it is certain that abuses involving their dispensation did occur, the film mistakes those abuses for official church teaching.

This is to be expected, as indulgences is the topic used for the Reformation. I found the same faults and misunderstandings in the film on Luther put out 50 years ago.

Kotton

 

[Kevin_Walker]

Tiffse:

What is the church’s position on the movie, Luther (2003) starring Joseph Fiennes? Is it historically accurate?

But how accurate could it be when the historical Martin Luther was a 300 lb fat guy and Joseph Fiennes was slim?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Kevin Walker:

But how accurate could it be when the historical Martin Luther was a 300 lb fat guy and Joseph Fiennes was slim?

Did it show the scene where he threw the bottle of ink at the Devil? (The stain is still there on the wall – I’ve seen it.)

The problem is, in his own writing, he doesn’t say he threw ink – he threw something else.http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon12.gif

 

[Malachi4U]

The movie was pure propaganda. It was based on history just like Star Wars or Troy. The writters just added what they liked true, false or other.

The movie is good, but it is a complete joke for accuracy. Imagine Hitler making a movie on why he was soo great.

 

[Kevin_Walker]

Malachi4U:

The movie is good, but it is a complete joke for accuracy. Imagine Hitler making a movie on why he was soo great.

Do you mean: TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. ?

 

[Fizendell]

I rented this movie last week and am glad to see others talking about it here. I knew I would have to take it with a grain of salt given the credit to Thrivant Financial for Lutherans at the beginning. Not a big deal, but endorsements say a lot.

I found it fascinating because I like historical-type shows. I read Luther’s 95 Theses a couple of years ago and was amazed to find how they are all essentially about indulgences. I expected to find points about the worship of icons, or confessing to God and not a priest, or all of the other things that the Protestants told me were wrong about the Catholic Church. I think when I discovered they were not there and began looking at just how many protesting religions there were out there, I began looking back to the Catholic Church, and thus began my journey back.

Thanks for the link to the USCCB - I agree that it was over-simplified and interesting how they made the other professor out to be the “bad guy” in inciting riots while Luther innocently sat translating the New Testament.

Overall, I think it’s important to learn from history so that we do not repeat it. For all the things I see on these boards that current Catholics disagree with inside the Church, it is my hope we renew our faith within the Church and not leave it because we disagree!

sorry for getting long-winded… I’m just glad to be back in the Church…

=)
Fiz

 

[Kotton]

Fizendell:

I read Luther’s 95 Theses a couple of years ago and was amazed to find how they are all essentially about indulgences. I expected to find points about the worship of icons, or confessing to God and not a priest, or all of the other things that the Protestants told me were wrong about the Catholic Church.

Well the theses were written as a foundation for a debate by scholars on ‘what are indulgences and how they should be presented’. Luther was seeing a misunderstanding and also finding that some were teaching incorrectly what indulgences do for the person. In reading the theses you will find he supports the Pope and wants him to insure that the teachings are right.

As you say, the ‘95 theses’ are presented as the ‘95’ things that were wrong with the Church. We find in reading that they are 95 sentences, with a sentence following being a further comment on the previous one. Many of these statements are recognized as in line with Catholic belief. The abuse part of indulgences was corrected by the Church.

Kotton

 

[catsrus]

I was considering renting Luther also for the same reason as Fizendell; I like historical drama.
I saw Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth, which was one on the most historically inaccurate films I’ve seen, but it was beautiful to watch. The acting, costumes and settings were magnificent.

 

[Chickamauga]

I was considering renting Luther also for the same reason as Fizendell; I like historical drama.
I saw Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth, which was one on the most historically inaccurate films I’ve seen, but it was beautiful to watch. The acting, costumes and settings were magnificent.

I also like historic films but the Luther movie went sour for me when he delivers his homilies, not from a pulpit, but while wandering around the main aisle of a medevel church ,for all the world looking like he’s lecturing at a modern business symposium.

 

[Maccabees]

Kevin Walker:

But how accurate could it be when the historical Martin Luther was a 300 lb fat guy and Joseph Fiennes was slim?

Aint’t that the truth kinda like the movies that have a slim Henry the VII battling the Pope and wooing ANN Bolyenn. Both of these church dissidents were fat toads. Why Hollwood has Richard Burton and Joseph Fines playing these toads are beyond me.
These men are way to good looking to be playing these guys.

I almost fell out of my chair when they had Luther translating the first German Bible ever. Reality it was the 14th German venacular Bible. Can’t beleive they went for that cheap shot but they did.

 

[Tiffse]

Chickamauga:

I also like historic films but the Luther movie went sour for me when he delivers his homilies, not from a pulpit, but while wandering around the main aisle of a medevel church ,for all the world looking like he’s lecturing at a modern business symposium.

He was a professor. In that scene, he was “wandering around the main aisle” of his college classroom lecturing to his students not “delivering his homilies.”